Post-mortem stability and redistribution of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT)

Forensic Sci Int. 2008 Jan 30;174(2-3):161-5. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.03.020. Epub 2007 May 1.

Abstract

Post-mortem diagnosis of chronic alcohol abuse is a challenge for forensic experts due to the lack of pathognomonic morphological findings and often also inadequate background information. Objective methods demonstrating chronic excessive alcohol consumption would therefore be a useful tool for forensic pathologists. In clinical practice, several markers of chronic alcohol abuse have recently been introduced, among which carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is the most accepted, but the use of these markers in autopsy has not yet been established. We examined post-mortem stability and possible post-mortem redistribution of CDT and compared two analytical methods, capillary zone electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography. According to our results, CDT remains stable for an appreciable time after death. The results further indicate that CDT is not subject to major post-mortem redistribution.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alcoholism / diagnosis
  • Alcoholism / metabolism
  • Biomarkers
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Electrophoresis, Capillary
  • Female
  • Forensic Toxicology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postmortem Changes*
  • Transferrin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Transferrin / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Transferrin
  • carbohydrate-deficient transferrin